Rare Books & Special Collections

Rare Books & Special Collections

Rare Books & Special Collections houses the Library’s most valuable and vulnerable publications,
including old and rare books, fine and limited editions, University of Adelaide publications and the specialist
Pacific and Theatre collections.

It also takes responsibility for the collection and preservation of manuscripts and personal papers of members
of the University community, particularly academic staff, and acquires collections of personal and institutional
papers relating to its specific research strengths. These include Pacific and indigenous Australian
history and language, British and Australian theatre and University of Adelaide history.

Marie Larsen

Special Collections is open to members of the University and to members of other institutions and the
public with appropriate identification. Material from Special Collections is not available for loan
and must be consulted in the Special Collections reading room.

Some material from the collection may be copied. However, in order to protect and preserve valuable
materials it will not usually be possible to make photocopies of manuscripts or rare books. Digital
photography without flash is preferred. Arrangements for reproduction of material by
scanning or photographic means may be made with Special Collections staff.

All copying and further reproduction (including publication) is covered by the provisions of the 1968
Copyright Act (Cth) and by any particular conditions relating to individual manuscripts and archival
collections.

Access to the manuscript and archival collections is by application. These collections are covered by formal
access conditions and some collections and parts of collections have additional restrictions imposed by the
donors.

Adopt a Book

Many of the items housed in Rare Books & Special Collections are in need of repair and restoration in
order to ensure their ongoing availability for future generations of scholars. In 2012, the Friends
of the University of Adelaide Library established the
Adopt a Book
scheme, offering Library supporters the
opportunity to contribute towards this valuable conservation treatment.